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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm getting enough exercise?

39 replies

Whatsnewwithyou · 27/05/2018 08:17

I got a fitbit and then I got a dog. I walk the dog (brisk walk) for about 45 minutes to an hour a day. The fitbit tracks this as "active minutes". Is this enough exercise? By enough I mean according to guidelines that say you need to do about half an hour of exercise per day.

I used to go to the gym 3 times a week and feel miserable while using the elliptical trainer or treadmill or doing a cardio class. Now I'm allegedly getting more exercise but it doesn't "feel" like exercise as I'm not miserable. AIBU to just keep walking the dog and give up the gym?

OP posts:
donajimena · 27/05/2018 08:19

Watching with interest. I love completing my green circles.

sirfredfredgeorge · 27/05/2018 08:22

Are you at all out of breath, is your heartrate up? I suspect if you've done it for a long time it's not really exercise, but just your normal activity that your body is adapted to.

It's also not really impact bearing, and there's no strength component, which are also both important for health.

Certainly don't keep doing things that make you miserable though, find something that doesn't make you miserable that is also exercise.

FriendlyOcelot · 27/05/2018 08:22

Yes. Of course it’s enough. I’ve been doing the same for years and am thrilled to not have to go to the gym - I hate it and would much rather be out in the fresh air! It’s far healthier and walking is one of the best exercises!

It depends what kind of fitness you’re after - I do suppplementary sit ups and toning exercises as well, but a brisk 45-60 min walk sounds good to me.

Of course some nutter will be on saying they work out 2 hours a day at the gym but hell that’s not much of a life Grin

JontyDoggle37 · 27/05/2018 08:23

That rather depends on your weight and overall health. If you’re already a healthy weight, then it’s enough as maintenance. If not, then you might need to do more to increase calorie burn

PurpleDaisies · 27/05/2018 08:23

Enough exercise for what?

BG2015 · 27/05/2018 08:25

Does your heart rate increase? You're probably getting plenty of cardio exercise but maybe need some resistance/weights as well.

ScaredPAD · 27/05/2018 08:33

Following. Purple - I'm guessing enough exercise to be healthy. Nhs etc say 5 x 30mins exercise a week is recommended and I've often wondered if walking counts!
If so does school runs count... or just "going out walking!"

I'm currently swimming lengths 2 x week but going for proper walks on some days (well to me, maybe 3 miles coastal walking type thing not huge rambles!) And wondering if they "counts and if they do then what makes it different to the school run.

I have a lot of weight to lose though but just want to be healthy.

Miloarmadillo2 · 27/05/2018 08:34

My Fitbit tracks any walking as 'active minutes', even strolling up the road at 3 yr old pace, it certainly isn't getting me out of breath. I have a dog and walk the school run which easily gets me 10,000 steps, 60 active minutes but I still was pretty unfit until I did c25k and started running a couple of times a week. I guess it depends what level of fitness you are happy with, walking a lot is definitely better than sitting on the couch. Being active every day is probably better than being basically sedentary and then doing a half hour class a few times a week. If it makes you happy and you will keep it up then it's a win!

Believeitornot · 27/05/2018 08:36

How many steps is 45 mins?

I would say no it’s not enough. When I exercise it’s hard work. I don’t go to the gym though. Walking is just part of my day.

IWouldLikeToKnow · 27/05/2018 08:39

From a cardiovascular point of view, it does seem like you are doing enough, if as PP says you are getting slightly short of breath and it's raising your heart rate, which I'm sure it is. The minimum guidelines are at least 30mins of moderate exercise at least 5 days per week which you are achieving

Highhorse1981 · 27/05/2018 08:41

Age?
Health?

That doesn’t sound nearly enough to me if under 50 and decent health

It’s good to get to a point where you couldn’t hold a conversation

donajimena · 27/05/2018 08:43

Does anyone know if I should aim for peak? I do a lot of Fat Burn/Cardio. I have yet to hit peak.

Rocinante1 · 27/05/2018 08:53

Active minutes on fitbit are just a period of 15 or more minutes where you're doing a repetitive motion. You could be walking at a snail's pace and it would still register as an active minute.

You really want to be getting your heart rate up for 30 minutes or so a day. That's what improves your heart muscle, your stamina, your cardiovascular system and will also help tone muscles.

If the walk is decent, and you're getting your heart rate up then it's fine. If not, you should be working harder.

TheHulksPurplePanties · 27/05/2018 08:57

That's how much I'm doing on the recommendations of my orthopedic specialist and physiotherapists.
I used to have an issue with over exercising to the point of injury, so they are being very clear that this is enough.

ScaredPAD · 27/05/2018 09:01

A 45min brisk walk is surely enough!

MollyHuaCha · 27/05/2018 09:02

I think it depends on your speed- whether it's a stroll, stopping for doggy wees and sniffs every minute, or a fast paced walk.

Original poster
Whatsnewwithyou · 27/05/2018 10:33

Thanks everyone. The walk is brisk enough to get my heart rate up - my resting heart rate is 50 and my average when walking is 85-90. The fitbit rgistwrs this as the "fat burn" zone.

I'm 45 years old and size 12 - according to weight charts I need to lose a stone to be at my ideal weight and I've actually been losing steadily as I'm on 5:2 which I love. I want o exercise and be a healthy weight just to reduce my risk of cardiovascular disease etc. To be healthy, really. I'm not very concerned about looking good in a bikini or anything like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatsnewwithyou · 27/05/2018 10:56

Rocinante1 that isn't correct. Active minutes on a fitbit are not just doing a continuous motion they are periods where you are doing 3 or more METs (metabolic equivalents) which is considered moderate activity. Strolling slowly doesn't count but walking at a brisk pace does.

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Original poster
Whatsnewwithyou · 27/05/2018 10:57

More information about METs en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_equivalent

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DuchyDuke · 27/05/2018 10:58

If your active minute charge shows as yellow or green then you probably are. If orange you walk too slowly to experience any health benefits for any continuous walking under 2 hours.

BonsaiBear · 27/05/2018 11:03

I think varying the types of exercise you do also makes a difference because your body adjusts to the same activities over time. So a walk that used to tire you out won't make so much difference after a few weeks of doing it.

Exercise doesn't have to make you miserable to be effective, but doing the same exercise as your only activity week in and week out isn't likely to help you do much more than maintain your current level of fitness. If that's enough for you and you feel healthy then great!

If not then maybe try adding in a few short exercise routines that will make your body move differently each week - like yoga, HIIT, weights, and so on. You can do a lot of these in short bursts at home if you don't want to go to the gym.

HushabyeMountainGoat · 27/05/2018 11:11

If you're out of breath then it counts as exercise but 90bpm isn't particularly high. I do a 20min HIIT class most mornings and my HR can be up to 190.

If walking is what you enjoy, you could try including some more hills and/or doing a minute at your fastest walking pace every few minutes to keep your HR up and burn more calories.

lljkk · 27/05/2018 11:16

I never heard of METs before. Since you believe in them, maybe this list will guide you.

Why should people reduce their METs just because they got older? Confused What is the logic of that? (Read this, still no wiser)

(apparently I'm burning 75-80 METs a week (!). I especially don't believe the swimming METs calculator, though )

speakout · 27/05/2018 11:20

It's better than no exercise.

I need to keep my core strong though as a history of back problems- and that has the nice side affect of giving me a six pack!
I also like to work on my upper body- shoulders and arm muscles, and flexibilty is important for me too as I spend a lot of my working time sitting hunched over.

So just walking wouldn't do it for me.

Original poster
Whatsnewwithyou · 27/05/2018 11:26

How do you keep your core strong, speakout? I think I need to work on this too, and do strength training in addition to what I'm doing.

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